Familiar performers Robert Clarke, Olivia Cole, Bradford Dillman, George Kirby, Jackie Joseph, Cameron Mitchell, Garrett Morris, Ed Nelson, Clive Revill, Stan Shaw, Bobby Sherman and Glynn Turman guest star in this episode, which represents the first of four journeys for Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) into the State of Louisiana, and the first of three set in the City of New Orleans.
"Murder, She Wrote" (subject to your personal interpretation) seems to guard its characters of various ethnic descent, whether of African, Asian, European or Hispanic heritage, by portraying minorities in relatively non-violent, role model fashion of sorts, in an ambassadorship of good will to one and all. Characters representing minority groups seem rarely typecast here, and rarely as perpetrators of crimes unless, perhaps, those committed upon a peer of one's own ethnic demography, considering the times.
We're up to one of the earliest of these "MSW" episodes featuring ethnic characters included among a host of murder suspects. One may decide this 1984 outing years ahead of its time, or, perhaps behind its time, depending upon point of view. Yet, the programs handles its subject content sensitively while adding character dimension to afford those of many demographic backgrounds the opportunity to portray a character with dimension.
The story begins at a New Orleans television station, at which Jonathan Hawley (Clive Revill) invites J.B. Fletcher to be interviewed upon a book program, but wires are crossed, and Jessica arrives two days ahead of schedule. Amid a production in process, with Jackie Joseph as Actress, Robert Clarke as Actor, Mario Machado as TV Announcer, and Bruce Marchiano as Assistant Director, Jonathan invites Jessica on a tour of the city, specifically to a Jazz concert in the French Quarter.
Ben Coleman (Glynn Turman) leads a jazz band, he proficient on clarinet, and well-known as a perfectionist by those around him. Ben's wife, Callie Coleman (Olivia Cole) and Ben's assistant, Eddie Walters (Stan Shaw), sacrifice their everything to provide for Ben's success at his venture.
Eubie Sherwin (George Kirby), Jimmy Firth (Bobby Sherman) and Hec Tattersal (David Whitfield) work as instrumentalists in Ben's troupe, which performs before a gathering including Jessica and Jonathan, plus Carl Turnball (Ed Nelson), who operates the club and senses a mounting discourse among band members, some who may be forced to leave through no specific fault of their own.
One of Jonathan's television camera crews films the concert, during which, a musician staggers in place, before collapsing as the result of a fatal dosage of poison.
Doctor Aaron Kramer (Cameron Mitchell) and Doctor Allan Collyer (Michael Canavan) tend to the victim and, subsequently, identify the toxic substance, while NOPD Detective Lieutenant Simeon Kershaw (Bradford Dillman) investigates possible sources and suspects, while accepting Jessica's assistance to determine exactly how the fast-acting poison was administered during a live concert, in a "Murder to a Jazz Beat."
Cab Driver Lafayette Duquesne (Garrett Morris), who has taxied Jessica from the airport to the television station, returns to taxi Jessica around New Orleans, from the club where the murder occurs to a club where possible suspects rehearse (with Wally K. Berns as Proprietor), and from the police station to the television station, to review a tape of the performance during that fatal night, to spot idiosyncrasies which other experts may be overlooking.
Jessica keeps her eyes open for clues which seem to counter her own theories, until the showdown at the memorial park on the day of the services, as the jazz band plays its instrumental rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching On."
This episode marks the most recent television acting role to date for David Whitfield, the first of two "MSW" guest appearances each for Michael Canavan and Clive Revill, the first of three performances each for Olivia Cole, Mario Machado, Stan Shaw, Glynn Turman, the first of five performances for Ed Nelson, and the first of a record-setting eight "MSW" guest roles (as different characters) for Bradford Dillman.
Veteran film and television actor Cameron Mitchell, performing since 1945, Robert Clarke, since 1944, George Kirby, since 1951, and Wally K. Berns, since 1965, have unfortunately since passed.
"Murder, She Wrote" (subject to your personal interpretation) seems to guard its characters of various ethnic descent, whether of African, Asian, European or Hispanic heritage, by portraying minorities in relatively non-violent, role model fashion of sorts, in an ambassadorship of good will to one and all. Characters representing minority groups seem rarely typecast here, and rarely as perpetrators of crimes unless, perhaps, those committed upon a peer of one's own ethnic demography, considering the times.
We're up to one of the earliest of these "MSW" episodes featuring ethnic characters included among a host of murder suspects. One may decide this 1984 outing years ahead of its time, or, perhaps behind its time, depending upon point of view. Yet, the programs handles its subject content sensitively while adding character dimension to afford those of many demographic backgrounds the opportunity to portray a character with dimension.
The story begins at a New Orleans television station, at which Jonathan Hawley (Clive Revill) invites J.B. Fletcher to be interviewed upon a book program, but wires are crossed, and Jessica arrives two days ahead of schedule. Amid a production in process, with Jackie Joseph as Actress, Robert Clarke as Actor, Mario Machado as TV Announcer, and Bruce Marchiano as Assistant Director, Jonathan invites Jessica on a tour of the city, specifically to a Jazz concert in the French Quarter.
Ben Coleman (Glynn Turman) leads a jazz band, he proficient on clarinet, and well-known as a perfectionist by those around him. Ben's wife, Callie Coleman (Olivia Cole) and Ben's assistant, Eddie Walters (Stan Shaw), sacrifice their everything to provide for Ben's success at his venture.
Eubie Sherwin (George Kirby), Jimmy Firth (Bobby Sherman) and Hec Tattersal (David Whitfield) work as instrumentalists in Ben's troupe, which performs before a gathering including Jessica and Jonathan, plus Carl Turnball (Ed Nelson), who operates the club and senses a mounting discourse among band members, some who may be forced to leave through no specific fault of their own.
One of Jonathan's television camera crews films the concert, during which, a musician staggers in place, before collapsing as the result of a fatal dosage of poison.
Doctor Aaron Kramer (Cameron Mitchell) and Doctor Allan Collyer (Michael Canavan) tend to the victim and, subsequently, identify the toxic substance, while NOPD Detective Lieutenant Simeon Kershaw (Bradford Dillman) investigates possible sources and suspects, while accepting Jessica's assistance to determine exactly how the fast-acting poison was administered during a live concert, in a "Murder to a Jazz Beat."
Cab Driver Lafayette Duquesne (Garrett Morris), who has taxied Jessica from the airport to the television station, returns to taxi Jessica around New Orleans, from the club where the murder occurs to a club where possible suspects rehearse (with Wally K. Berns as Proprietor), and from the police station to the television station, to review a tape of the performance during that fatal night, to spot idiosyncrasies which other experts may be overlooking.
Jessica keeps her eyes open for clues which seem to counter her own theories, until the showdown at the memorial park on the day of the services, as the jazz band plays its instrumental rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching On."
This episode marks the most recent television acting role to date for David Whitfield, the first of two "MSW" guest appearances each for Michael Canavan and Clive Revill, the first of three performances each for Olivia Cole, Mario Machado, Stan Shaw, Glynn Turman, the first of five performances for Ed Nelson, and the first of a record-setting eight "MSW" guest roles (as different characters) for Bradford Dillman.
Veteran film and television actor Cameron Mitchell, performing since 1945, Robert Clarke, since 1944, George Kirby, since 1951, and Wally K. Berns, since 1965, have unfortunately since passed.
